•Nov. 16, 100 block of 30th Street, information. A complainant reported an opossum in her yard “that was refusing to leave after being physically encouraged to do so,” according to the incident report. A Holmes Beach Police Department officer responded and was able to snare the animal, which was released off Anna Maria Island.

• Nov. 17, 300 block of Clark Drive, battery. A man came to the door of a downstairs residence to demand the location of his son. Two men told him they were on vacation and did not know his son. According to the report, the discussion “got out of hand” and the suspect pushed one of the two men, who swung at the suspect but missed and was then punched in the face by the suspect. A man living upstairs arrived and said his son was friends with the suspect’s son, but that no other children were at his home. The suspect said another one of his friend’s son said he was there, but did not realize that the house had two separate living units when he knocked on the downstairs door. Police arrived and all parties agreed it was a “big misunderstanding.” Police helped the man search for his son at a nearby beach access, at which time the man’s girlfriend called to say his son was at home, sleeping in his bed. No charges were filed in the incident.

• Nov. 17, 3200 block of East Bay Drive, criminal traffic. An HBPD officer observed what appeared to be a suspicious tag. The officer initiated a traffic stop and learned the license plate was not registered to the vehicle. The woman allegedly admitted she was borrowing the car and had put an old license plate on the vehicle. The officer asked about the tag, which appeared to have been tampered with. The woman initially denied tampering with the tag but later admitted that she had used a Sharpie to make the 2006 tag appear to look like a 2013 tag. The vehicle was towed and the woman was issued three criminal traffic citations.

• Nov. 17, 600 block of Dundee, burglary. A man arrived home after being away for a month. He went to his freezer to remove some fish and discovered the fish was gone. Upon looking around his home, he discovered nine fishing reels, valued at $2,200, were missing. The complainant also reported a change bucket containing about $40 was missing. Police observed the side of the garage door had been pried open.

Holmes Beach is policed by the HBPD.

Streetlife is based on incident reports and narratives from the Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach police departments and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

A celebration of her life was held Nov. 23 in Bradenton Beach. A memorial service will take place at a later date in Michigan. Covell Funeral Home of Bradenton is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Menzie is survived by her children, Chari and husband David Garet, Lori and husband John Marentic and James and wife Kim; grandchildren Stephanie, Jackie, Morgan, Tom, Kara and Kelly; sisters Nancy, Ellen and Sharon “Cookie.”

Mr. Mullaney was an accomplished salesman and owned his own business for 30 years. He had a private pilot license, was a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Navy League and Moose Lodge No. 2188. He loved boating, flying, snowmobiling and, most recently, RVing.

Visitation and a gathering of relatives and friends was held at the Creran Funeral Home in Oaklyn, N.J., and at the Church of St. Isaac Jogues, 3 Lord Place, Marlton, N.J. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at the church. Entombment was at New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, N.J. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice online at www.creranfh.com.

James A. Ross, 72, of Bradenton and a long-time resident of Holmes Beach, died Nov. 21.

After graduating college with his degree in engineering, he served in the U.S. Army Rangers stationed from 1963 to 1969 in Fort Benning, Ga.. Along with his father Anthony, they held several patents, the most prominent being the Ross Temp Automatic Flaked Ice Machine, which can still be seen in hotels today.

He later ran the Jungle Queen charter boat out of Cortez for several years.

A private memorial service was planned.

Mr. Ross is survived by wife Cindy; son Gregory and wife Lee and two grandsons of Holmes Beach; sister Judi Williams of Wheaton, Ill.; stepdaughter Melissa; and grandson James Wardell of Bradenton.

Walter Thomas Bell

Walter Thomas Bell, 89, was born Aug. 25, 1923, in Cortez Village to Aaron Parx Bell and Jessie Blanche Fulford Bell. He died Nov. 20.

Mr. Bell served in the Merchant Marines in World War II. He often said that he saw enough of the world during those years to know that he was happy to be back in Cortez.

He was part owner and manager of A.P. Bell Fish Company and a proud supporter of Florida’s seafood industry. In his younger years, he loved to run a gill net for mullet, pompano and mackerel. Had he ever retired, he wanted to return to the water to catch pompano.

Even though he would probably have preferred to fish, in the early 1960s he began working at the fish house. He adapted well to buying and selling local catches from commercial fishers. He had a laid back personality that earned him the respect of fishers and customers alike.

Some of his business “rules” were to pay fair prices; pay on correct weights; always pay the fishermen promptly, saying often, “If you’re in the fish business and you can’t pay for the fish, you shouldn’t be in the fish business;” and spend money locally whenever possible.

He always had a smile, listened more than he spoke and was generous even when he knew better. All of these qualities and beliefs were important to Walter and contributed to his success in business and happiness in life.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, at Palma Sola Community Church, 8604 Ninth Ave. NW, Bradenton. Friends are invited to gather at A.P. Bell Fish Company in Cortez to share memories and fishing stories following the service.

Mr. Bell is survived by brothers Chester and Doug and daughters Karen and Lisa.

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RSVP: THE RETIRED and Senior Volunteer Program is a looking for volunteers in Manatee County to share their talents in high impact programs that improve the quality of life for people in our community. RSVP is a federally funded program that recruits and matches volunteers 55 and over with specific needs in our community. If you are aged 55 or older with time to give, please reserve a spot at our next orientation luncheon held 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5 in Bradenton at 302 Manatee Ave. East, third floor, Enterprise Center, Bradenton. Contact, 941-556-3210 to reserve.

HAITI $$$ DONATIONS to the Ministry of Presence Inc., www.ministryofpresence.org, urgently needed for local representatives to aid homeless children. Info: The Islander, 941-778-7978.

POWER NOLES CUSTOM 11.5-foot fiberglass tunnel hull with bass seats. Very stable! Great for fishing-stand on the side without tipping, go in really shallow waters. Very fun boat for anyone who wants to get on the water! 2001 25-hp Mercury 2-stroke, plus a trolling motor with battery. Must see! $2,150 obo. Call Toni, 941-928-8735.

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